Karachi residents in crisis as authorities cut gas unannounced
What's the story
Residents of Karachi are facing difficulties due to unannounced gas outages that have disrupted their daily lives. Per Dawn, residents have accused the state-owned Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) of not adhering to its promised supply schedule of uninterrupted gas from 6:00am to 10:30pm. Over the past two weeks, citizens have reported frequent and unannounced load-shedding, forcing them to make alternative cooking arrangements.
Public impact
Residents flock to restaurants, roadside snack vendors
The gas shortages have resulted in overcrowding at restaurants, roadside snack vendors, and LPG stations across the city. Long queues have formed for basic food items such as roti and naan. Students preparing for ongoing examinations are also stressed due to these gas shortages amid power and water supply issues in several neighborhoods.
Supply crisis
LPG stock shortages in several areas
LPG stock shortages in several areas have further exacerbated the situation. Residents are left with few alternatives as they struggle to find substitutes for their cooking needs. Long queues have formed at LPG stations and shops as refilling takes considerable time. At many shops, even LPG is not available, adding to people's difficulties. Muhammad Akhtar from Sultanabad expressed frustration over these issues, saying, "I waited for half an hour, only to be told that the gas would arrive late."
Company statement
SSGC claims proper gas supply ensured throughout meal times
In a statement on Monday, the SSGC claimed that "proper gas supply was ensured throughout the meal times, i.e. breakfast, lunch and dinner." The company said line packs were healthy and gas pressures were at optimal capacity. It also emphasized ensuring optimal gas supply to the power and fertilizer sectors for food security. "The company is trying to manage the available resources in a balanced manner so that the needs of all the sectors are met," it said.
Political response
Punjab is also reeling under an electricity crisis
Punjab is also reeling under an electricity crisis with frequent outages across urban and rural areas. Rural areas served by Multan Electric Power Company are facing outages from hourly interruptions to 16 hours a day. Urban centers like Faisalabad and Lahore have also been experiencing outages lasting three to four hours daily. A spokesperson for Lahore Electric Supply Company attributed some outages to scheduled maintenance or repairs while others were due to efforts against electricity theft.